Interview with Author Sam Boush
Please welcome Sam Boush, Author of the great new Thriller – ALL SYSTEMS DOWN
Hello Sam, welcome, and thanks for doing the interview –
The Cyber War and ALL SYSTEMS DOWN
I just finished reading your amazing first book of your Cyber War Series, ALL SYSTEMS DOWN, and I was going to ask where a journalist and a novelist came up with the background for this story. But then, I noticed on your website: “Center for Internet Security, International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium, and Cloud Security Alliance.”
How did you get involved in writing about cyber attacks, and a hypothetical and realistic war? It is a big step from being a firefighter, a journalist and owning a marketing agency.
Sam Boush – After I sold my marketing agency, I had some time to finally jump into the career I’d wanted to pursue since I was a kid. (I have this theory that most of us secretly or not-so-secretly want to be an artist of some kind – whether it’s a rock star, sculptor, or scribbler.) So I wrote a novel on one of the subjects I find most interesting, which is the vulnerability of our physical infrastructure to cyber war.
All Systems Down has done pretty well, and I’m feeling good about the sequel that should be out in 2019.
Glad to hear the book is doing so well and that’s great news about the sequel!
While I was preparing for your interview, I spent some time on your website, Cyberwars.com , and came up with some questions.
Great website by the way, okay, now to learn more about Sam Boush…
About Sam Boush
Sam, you’ve led such an exciting and no-doubt dangerous life first as a wildland firefighter and then a journalist. What led you to being a wildland firefighter and what, if anything, do you miss about it? And regarding journalist, taking into account France and Spain, am I right in guessing you were a foreign correspondent?
Sam Boush – Firefighting was probably dangerous, but my journalism career wasn’t. I WISH I’d been a foreign correspondent. But, alas, my most successful article was a science piece about the (ahem) below-the-waist features of snakes. It did win a Society for Professional Journalists award, though!
“His Heart Belongs to Portland”
According to your website you have lived in France and Spain, but your heart belongs to Portland. I know there’s a story there, so please tell us as much as you want to share. Were you raised in Portland or does it have everything to do with your lovely family?
Sam Boush – I’m originally from Eugene, Oregon, about two hours south of Portland. But I’ve lived in this blustery city for fourteen years, and really do love it. Great neighborhoods, very livable, nice people. And of course, my family, like you say. My kids are elementary-school-aged and I’m pretty sure they like this place as much as any kids can love their hometown.
The Irishman and the Vikings
Please tell us about your first full-length story. No, not the first one you published, but the very first one you ever wrote. How old were you and what was it about?
Sam Boush –I’ve told the story before about how my first story, as a kid, was Winnie-the-Pooh fanfic. (http://jodigallegos.com/author-spotlight-sam-boush/). But I don’t think anyone has ever asked me about the first full-length book I wrote (and never published) as a teenager. It was a cringy historical fiction attempt about a 7th Century Irishman who gets captured by Vikings. If I can say one good thing about it, tackling that manuscript taught me a lot about writing.
Funny enough, the first fifty pages were actually decent enough to get me an award from the Pacific Northwest Writer’s Association. I guarantee that if they’d read the whole thing (as a couple unfortunate agents did) they’d never have given me that award.
Advice for New Writers
Sam, congratulations on the award! You mentioned how much you learned about writing while you wrote your Irishman story. What advice would you give new writers, especially those “cringing” after their first story?
Sam Boush – There’s so much. The advice I hear a lot is just to keep writing—and I think that’s great. But I’d also add that there’s a lot to the craft of writing that new writers sometimes struggle with. A few examples are: plotting, especially creating acts (as in a three-act structure); ensuring all major characters have a story arc with a resolution; and focusing on chapter-level writing, rather than trying to write perfect sentences.
The Cyber War Series
What can you tell us about your next book in the Cyber War Series?
Sam Boush – I can tell you that I’m wrapping it up now and that my publisher should be getting it after I get some more feedback from advance readers. There’s a much bigger military focus in this one, so I’ve got a lot of help from the good people in our armed forces around what they would do in certain situations if the lights went out and satellites started falling from the skies.
In Case of Cyber Attack?
Wow, how exciting. Can’t wait to read it!
Now, speaking of wrapping up, one last question, Sam. If there was a cyber attack on the US, much like in your book, knowing all that you know about the subject, where would you go?
Sam Boush – Well, the conceit of the book is that the cyber attack in All Systems Down is hugely devastating. More devastating than we’d probably see in real life because of the difficulty in coordination. But if a cyber war hit us at that scale, I’d probably stay home if I could. Heading out into the country or off camping with my family just wouldn’t cut it.
Well, I’m thinking that’s good advice. Thank you, Sam Boush, Author of ALL SYSTEMS DOWN, for being here. I wish you continued success in writing career and all the best on your upcoming book.
And for those who want to know more about the Sam Boush, his links are below: